422
Linus Torvalds used AI to fix a Linux bug, and now LLM critics on Linux face an uncomfortable choice (www.xda-developers.com)
submitted 5 days ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
496 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

https://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2026/08/msg00041.html

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 104 points 5 days ago* (4 children)

Hackers use LLMs to spot odd exploits so it makes sense developers use them too. The usage of LLMs in development likely won‘t make Linux better or safer overall, because bugs and exploits wouldn‘t have been found by either side without it in the first place. It‘s like pandora‘s box where Linus is kind of forced to use it. If that makes sense.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 8 child comments
    •
  • [–] 19 points 5 days ago

    He might consider himself forced to use it to find bugs. He wouldn't be forced to use it to write the fix.

    (Now you might say he wasn't or isn't, but even if that were true for the kernel at large this doesn't seem to be: https://www.theregister.com/os-platforms/2026/08/10/linus-torvalds-says-ai-has-made-huge-linux-kernel-updates-the-new-normal/5285268 And this seems like mostly to be on Linus, for not stepping in here.)

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 5 points 5 days ago (1 child)

    Following the hacker arm race is a good point. But also the number of bugs is not a bottomless pit. If an LLM allows to find more, and hopefully the test and reviews are good enough to limit the new opportunities to introduce some from LLMs, it should reduce the overall number of bugs and make the software generally safer.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 0 points 3 days ago

    The frequency of bugs and exploits has increased exponentially since AI came about and I don't think it's due to hacker sophistication at all. Most of the advanced tools to find exploits aren't available to the general public if they really exist at all.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent